The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-24
THE soANDALoUs POSTAL SERVICE.

Tho Milwaukee Sentinel says the postal
service in that city "was never as bad as at
present. Letters and newspapers con-
tinually delayed or missent. The trouble is
due largely to the ineficiency and inexpe-
rience of the boys who have been taken
from the trenches and put at this new kind
of work by the present reform administra-
force in the postofice is not large enough to
do the work assigned them"
This is from the largest city in Postma ster-
general Vilas's State. It describes exactly
the condition of affairs in the Office at this
city. and doubtless in many others. The
complaint is universal In this city mail
matter is delayed from one to three days, is
missent, undelivered and lost to an extent
never before known. The work of the Office
is increasing from month to month, while the
clerical force, inadequate in numbers is
greatly weakened by the numerous removals
of experienced men and the appointment of
inexperienced and incompetent ones for
political reasons only. Thus the public bust
ness suffers and public interests are made
plaything of politics. As further illustra-
ton of the similarity of the situation in
Milwaukee and in this city, we quote from
the Sentinel:
Postmaster Paul says the trouble is due
to deficiency of force in the Milwaukee Office,
to which he has repeatedly called the atten-
ton of the department. But the administra-
ton has been more intent on making record
NJ a ha
pretext for a free trade campaign next year
than on providing efficient postal service.
The consequence is detrimental and annoying
to business men,"
Substitute Postmaster Jones for Postmaster
Paul, and you have the situation here. And
our Milwaukee contemporary diagnoses the
case correctly. The main responsibility rests
at Washington. The department tries to
throw it on Congress for not making more
liberal appropriations, but as Senator Thur
man says, that won't do. The late report of
the Postmaster general takes most rose
colored view of the service. represents it to be
more efficient than ever before, ignores all
defects, and endeavors to create the
impression that postal affairs are more
efficiently and economically administered
now than ever before. The public know
this is not SO. To speak plainly, it is a cam
paign lie. If the Postmaster general had
told the truth about the condition and wants
of the service the responsibility would have
rested on Congress for not making sufficient
appropriations But the appropriations that
ara made have been partially nullifed by the
appointment of so many inexperienced men
for political reasons. This, after all, is the
main source of difficulty and the responsible
ity for this rests on the administration. And
here we cannot do better than to quote again
from the Milwaukee Sentinel, which says:
1.-The organs Of the administration are in
the habit of commencing it for the business
methods It has introduced What they mean
by the phrase is something that no fellow can
find out. This much is certain, that the
postal service is in state of general democrat
ization. Never before has there been so much
inexcusable laundering and delay in that serv-
ice."
Certainly that is the case in this city and
State, and so far as we are able to Judge.
throughout the country.